Stokes reprimanded for 'inappropriate comment'

Ben Stokes could go into the Ashes with the threat of a ban hanging over him after he was reprimanded for swearing during the second day at Headingley.

"In addition to the reprimand for his breach of Article 2.1.4, one demerit point has been added to Stokes's disciplinary record", it added.

The incident took place in the 101st over of the West Indies innings, when Stokes, after being edged for a boundary by Shai Hope, made inappropriate comments which were audible on the mic and also heard by officials.

Stokes' first demerit point came on October 30 last year, and his second on November 26 last year.

Stokes' subsequent expletive was "clearly audible through the stump mic and also heard by the match officials", according to an ICC release, and amounted to a breach of Article 2.1.4 of the ICC Code of Conduct which deals with "using language or a gesture that is obscene, offensive or insulting during an worldwide match". If he fails to do so, he will be banned for one Test, two ODIs or two Twenty20 Internationals. And, after the day's play, Stokes admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee David Boon.

The charge was levelled by on-field umpires Chris Gaffaney and S. Ravi, third umpire Marais Erasmus, all from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires, as well as fourth umpire Nick Cook.

Hope, however, was still at the crease at the end of the day as he finished unbeaten on a career-best 147.